Apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. G. LYNDE.

COIN GONTROLLED INDIGATING APPARATUS.

No. 398,519. Patent-ed E's-13.26, 1889.

FIG:5.

Invemtor.

E WI masses 4 diffig f 2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

F. O. LYNDE.

7 00m CONTROLLED INDIGATING APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

FIG.'61.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

FREDERICK 0. LYNDE, OF MANCHESTER, COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,519, dated February 26, 1889.

Application filed January 27, 1888- Serial No. 262,162- (No model.) Patented in France January 14, 1888, No. 188,140; in Belgium January 20, 1888, No. 80,325; in Victoria February 28, 1888,110. 5,652, and in New South Wales March 1,1888,

To aZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FREDEnIoK CHARLES LYNDE, a subject of the Queen of Great Brit- 5 ain and Ireland, residing at Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented an Improved Coin-Controlled Indicating Apparatus, (for which I have obtained patents in France, No. 188,140, dated January 14, 1888; in Belgium, No. 80,325, dated Janu ary 20, 1888; in New South \Yales, No. 520, dated March 1, 1888, and in Victoria, No. 5,652, dated February 28, 1888,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic machines for indicating weight, pressure, or other similar force or measurement (such as height) on prepayment of a coin, the apparatus being a modification of an indicator for which I have already made an application for Letters Patent in the United States of America, Serial No. 262,192, filed January 25,1888, and is applicable both to indicators with a moving index and a fixed scale and to indicators with a fixed pointer and a moving scale. Instead of causing a spark or flash to proceed from the index or finger of the apparatus to the dial or other graduated scale, as set forth in the aforesaid application, I makethe mask which conceals the movingpart of the indicator of semi-opaque material, or I provide a small window of such material in an opaque mask in such a position that the movable part of the indicator is only visible for a short time after acoin has been inserted in the machine. This is efiected by causing the coin to ignite, uncover, or otherwise produce a light inside the casing of the indicator, so that the light will shine through the semi-opaque mask. It will be evident that thismaybe accomplished in a variety of ways, as shown in the annexed drawings, of which Figures 1, 2, and 3 are face views showing three diiferent forms of my improved indicator. Figs. 4 and 5 are sections thereof showing different sources of light. Fig. 6

shows, partly in perspective and partly in sec tion, how my improvements may be applied to an ordinary platform weighing-machine, a being the platform upon which the person (or article) to be weighed stands.

[ In the several figures, Z) is the support for the dial or scale 0. cl is the mask, and e is the index finger or pointer.

According to Fig. 1, the index or finger cis the moving part concealed behind the mask (1. The numerals and divisions on the dial or scale 0 may be either on a separate ring or printed on the face or in reverse onthe back. of the said mask (Z, as preferred. In the latter case the finger or pointer e may be always visible.

Fig. shows that the se1ni-opaque mask (1 may revolve, and the graduations or scale (3 may be marked on the back, (say in opaque White paint.) The fixed pointer e may be either always visible or also painted or fixed behind a semi-opaque screen.

Fig. shows that the dial or scale c may be transparent and revolve behind a fixed opaque mask, (Z, provided with a small semi-opaque window, d, near to the fixed pointer 6. It will be evident from this figure, and without further illustration, that the fixed mask (I may be made entirely of semi-opaque material and the window d dispensed with.

The light inside the framing of the indicator may be produced by a small incandes cent electric lamp lighted up automatically by the pressure of a coin in the apparatus by any suitable known mechanism, as indicated at f on Figs. 1 and 6; or it may be produced by a gas-jehf', (shown at Fig. 4,) turned down very low until the gas-tap f is actuated automatically by a coin acting through any suit able known mechanism; or it may be produced by removing a tubular or other screen,

5, or by moving the light itself.

I prefer to use for producing the required light the automatic apparatus for which I have made a separate application for Letters Patent in the United States, filed January 25, 1888, Serial No. 262,191, as shown at Fig. 6. In the case illustrated the coin is placed through a slit into a chute, Z, and falls into a small box, m. The box m is supported by a cord, or, or its equivalent, passing over a pulley, 0, and having a counterbalance-weight,p, attached to its other end which is sufficiently heavy to raise the box m when empty and f from a constant light, J, as shown at ]ig.--

support it in the position shown in full lines i in Fig. 6. hen the coin falls into the box,

it overcomes the counterbalance-weight p and causes the box to descend, being guided by 3 the fixed wires q or equivalent means. At the side of the box m there is a small arm, 1', g which supports (by means of a knot or but- 1 ton, S) a cord, S, to the lower end of which is attached a forked 0r bent piece of metal, 15. As the box m descends, the arms or ends of 5 this forkt descend into the mercurycontained in two glass tubes, t i. The Wires L from the battery K dip into or are otherwise in connection with the mercury, and thus the electric I 5 circuit is completed and the lamp f is lighted,

and the position of the linger e is thus rendered visible. hen the box m arrives at its lowest point, as shown by dotted lines on 1 Fig. 6, a plunger, u, having'an inclined upper v surface and forming the bottom of the box on, 5 (see Fig. 4,) comes into contact with a fixed 3 part of the apparatus and causes the coin to be pushed up out of the box m, when it falls into 'a suitable receptacle, 071*, Fig. 6. The 2 5 boxm, being thus lightened of its load, is then drawn back by the counterbalanceqveight 13 I into its original position. As soon as the arm r arrives at the knot or button S on the cord -1 S it causes the same to lift the fork i out of the mercury, and thusdisconnects the wires 7d and breaks the circuit, and the electric light will be extinguished, and consequently the visible indication will cease. i I would here remark that, although I pre- 3 5 fer the box 'm and its adjuncts, any competent electrician can devise other means of completing the electric circuit. g

Although I have illustrated my invention as applied to a dial or radial indicator, it is equally applicable to apparatus wherein the indication is made by other wcll-known movements.

I do not claim herein the construction of the coin-receptacle, as that is made the subject of a separate application filed by me January 25, 1888, Serial No. 202,l 91.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a weighing-machine, the combination of a scale and index, one movable and the other fixeduvith a semi-opaque shield in front and normally hiding from view the moving part, and a source of light located behind the shield and adapted to" illuminate the same when desired.

2. In a weighing-m achine, the combination of a scale and index, onemovable and the other fix'eduvith a semi-opaque shield in front of and normally hiding from view one of said parts, with a source of artificial light placed behind and adapted to illuminate the shield, a coin receptacle, and connections between the coin-receptacle and the lightwherebythe exposure of the latter is controlled by the former. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED. C. LYNDE.

Witnesses:

JNo. HUGHES, W. NICHOLSON. 

